Steve Borthwick is set for a timely return for Saracens in Saturday's Premiership final, although the club do not yet know if their director of rugby, Brendan Venter, will be welcome at Twickenham.

Contrary to expectations, the England lock has overcome the knee problem which removed him from England's summer tour plans and will be named in his side's starting XV for the final against Leicester. Borthwick has not played since mid-March when a form of tendinitis in his left knee ended his Six Nations campaign prematurely. When he was omitted from Martin Johnson's squad for the two-Test trip to Australia, it seemed the 30-year-old's season was over but Saracens are willing to gamble on his match fitness for a game of such huge significance. "It's not every day you get to a final and it would be crazy not to use him," Venter said.

"He spoke to me last week and I said if he could train last week at full pace then we would consider him. When I sat down with the coaches the over-riding opinion was that it would be wrong not to use a world-class player for the final. We're very happy to have him back and it will be good for the team."

Venter, nevertheless, has indicated that his South African No8 Ernst Joubert will continue to lead the side, a sure sign Borthwick is not expected to last the full 80 minutes against the Tigers. Saracens' stance, however, contrasts starkly with England's decision not to find room for their erstwhile captain in the 44-strong party, which is due to fly out to Perth on Monday. "Martin Johnson had to make a decision two weeks ago and at that stage Steve was not fit to play," Venter said.

Venter's own participation hinges on the outcome of tomorrow night's independent Rugby Football Union appeal hearing in London, chaired by Jim Sturman QC. Saracens remain hopeful the former Springbok centre's 14-week suspension for making provocative and inappropriate gestures and comments towards Leicester supporters at Welford Road this month will be overturned.

This time Venter may be advised to lay off the biscuits, having been accused of a lack of respect for nibbling one in front of RFU officials while his sanction was being read out. Saracens' chief executive, Edward Griffiths, remains adamant Venter meant no disrespect and is pressing for a reversal of the "disproportionate" ban which prohibits the latter from entering Twickenham on Saturday.

"Brendan Venter deserves to be at the final, it's as simple as that," Griffiths said. "Whatever he's done, and we consider it to be minor, he deserves to enjoy the excitement before the game and feel the sense of anticipation in the dressing-room."

Griffiths also denied Saracens had deliberately set out to antagonise the rest of English rugby or to be regarded as an oval-balled Millwall. "We regret that perception because it runs contrary to the values of our club," he said. "The idea that we are some kind of South African raiders trying to tear up the fabric of English rugby is nonsense. The idea that we are some kind of threat to the values of English rugby is nonsense. The soul of the club remains emphatically English.

"We don't want to be the brash naughty boys of English rugby but we just feel Brendan should be allowed to be part of the day. It should take something at the higher end of seriousness for the coach of eith side not to be allowed to do his job at the final. This is a day when English club rugby should put its best foot forward. We don't seek confrontation with anyone but if something appears to be wrong we're within our rights to say so."

Tonight's other eagerly-awaited date is the Championship promotion play-off between Bristol and Exeter at the Memorial Stadium. The visiting Chiefs are seeking to protect a slender 9-6 lead from last week's first leg.